Stress-Driven Short-Circuits in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Experiment and Modeling

Abstract

Despite the substantial increase in sales in the electric vehicle market, customers are concerned about the safety issues of lithium-ion batteries, such as internal short circuit, especially in the case of a collision, may lead to catastrophic consequences. Here, we reveal the quantitative relationship between battery deformation and internal short circuits. Through in-situ and ex-situ observations and ex-post characterization of constituent materials, the stress-driven internal short circuit and the failure behavior of constituent materials are quantified. With the help of validated numerical models and in-situ characterization of global field temperature, the secondary and major short circuits of the battery under various mechanical abuse loads are successfully determined. Finally, an internal short circuit standard for batteries of typical specifications is established. This finding provides a broader understanding of internal and external stress-driven short circuits. Figure 1